WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: U.S. President Barack Obama laughs during the 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner held at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. This was the 98th annual dinner and was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

April 29, 2012

US President Barack Obama poked fun at his likely presidential rival Mitt Romney and Republican opponents in Congress on Saturday night, including a dig at Romney’s treatment of a pet dog, at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The black-tie dinner, informally billed as the “nerd prom,” is the biggest social event of the year for Washington media and gives presidents a chance to show a lighter side.

“I’m not going to attack any of the Republican candidates. Take Mitt Romney; he and I actually have a lot in common,” the president said, telling the crowd of Hollywood celebrities and Washington power players that both men trailed their wives in national opinion polls.

Obama, who faces re-election in November, is expected to be matched against Romney, a multimillionaire and former Massachusetts governor.